YOUNGSTOWN — Law Director Jeff Limbian, who had his two-week suspension extended, is back on the job.

Limbian confirmed that Tuesday was his first day back; he declined further comment.

Attempts Tuesday to reach Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, who suspended Limbian on Nov. 18, were unsuccessful.

Brown said Dec. 1, the day before Limbian’s two-week suspension was to end, the law director wasn’t returning right away and the suspension was extended.

At the time, Brown said: “I’m done talking about it. He knows what he needs to do.” But Brown refused to explain what Limbian needed to do.

Limbian’s two-week suspension ended up being extended another five days though two of them were Saturday and Sunday.

Limbian’s annual salary is $83,948. If the weekend isn’t counted, Limbian lost close to $4,200 in salary.

WHY?

Limbian got into a dispute with city clerk Valencia Marrow over the delivery of legislation from his office to her that resulted in the cancellation, announced Nov. 10, of a Nov. 17 council meeting and a Nov. 15 council finance committee meeting.

In a Nov. 10 email, Marrow wrote: “It has been a constant struggle to get legislation in a timely manner in order for council to have time to read and digest their legislation.”

Marrow had requested legislation be provided to her office by noon Nov. 10 as the next day was a federal holiday, Veterans Day. It arrived that day but too late.

Limbian responded in a Nov. 15 email that Marrow’s “pique of anger and displacing blame is unfortunate” and her “rationale for canceling the meeting is misguided.”

He pointed out that council rules state the legislation deadline is noon the Friday before a council meeting. But he also acknowledged an “understanding” with Marrow and Councilwoman Lauren McNally, D-5th Ward and chairwoman of the finance committee, to “attempt to have legislation” seven days before a meeting.

Limbian wrote a letter of apology Nov. 18 to Brown, Marrow and city council, stating: “It has been clear for some time that communications in and out of the law department have been less than what is required to ensure smooth and efficient operations of the department.”

He also wrote he was stepping down as city prosecutor to “concentrate (on) my duties as law director,” and that “measures have been initiated to ensure that such difficulties do not occur in the future.”

At the Dec. 1 council meeting, Marrow spoke for several minutes about the issues with Limbian, saying they’ve been going on since he started nearly four years ago.

Also, council members Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward; Samantha Turner, D-3rd Ward; and Anita Davis, D-6th Ward, said Dec. 1 they had “no confidence” that Limbian could do the law director’s job while Councilwoman Basia Adamczak, D-7th Ward, said: “I’m not sure this is the best professional fit for him. The last four years have been challenging.”

McNally said Tuesday council hadn’t been notified of Limbian’s return. She also added her name to the list of council members who have “no confidence” in Limbian’s ability to be law director.

“He hasn’t shown he can be neutral in representing the mayor and city council” equally, she said.

McNally suggested the city charter be changed to have the law director be an elected position and not one made by the mayor.